INCENTIVES FOR PHYSICIANS TO TREAT HIV-SEROPOSITIVE PATIENTS - RESULTS OF A STATEWIDE SURVEY

We asked primary care physicians in South Carolina about their knowled ge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding patients with human immunodeficie ncy virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS ) and the services they provide for these patients. In support of an e ffort to develop more effective state policies regarding HIV/AIDS, the survey focused on conditions under which physicians would provide add itional services for such patients; 597 of 900 physicians (66%) respon ded. Among responding physicians, 40% had not seen a patient with HIV infection/AIDS during the past year and 50% had seen only one to nine. Respondents identified lack of specialty backup support, insufficient clinical knowledge, and lack of available community services as the m ajor barriers to providing care for these patients. Gaps in their know ledge included state and federal policies, available community resourc es, and clinical issues. Respondents said they would provide additiona l services if they had specialty backup (54%), better community and so cial support services (50%), additional training (46%), and limited li ability (44%). We concluded that policy changes in these areas could e xpand access to care for HIV/AIDS patients in South Carolina.